Chapter 9: Scorched Earth

Chapter 9: Scorched Earth

Walking along the rugged coast of Northern Skyrim after leaving the Horker Cave, the Hunter intended to create some distance between himself and Solitude. It was clear to him that capital city would be a no-go area for many years, especially after killing a handful of Imperial Legion soldiers during his escape from the beloved ship that he had once called home. The fact one of the dead was also an officer only furthered his worries that he would not be welcome in other parts of Empire-held Skyrim.

The Hunter soon reached the tip of the mainland and was forced to change direction and head west. Following the barren coastline, he didn’t expect to find anything worthy of note here. However, he was quickly surprised when he discovered two sabre cats relaxing by the coast. They were far smaller than the cats he had come across in the past. One of the cats in particular caught the Hunter’s eye; it had a mixture of soft black and white fur and sat in a small spot of grass, looking out at the endless ocean.

  

The Hunter stopped for a moment, hoping for the cats to move on as he wasn’t in the mood for a fight following the exhausting chase earlier in the day. He was also keen to find a place to rest as night was falling ever closer.

The Hunter stood with his tough boots carefully gripped to rocks below; his left view was blocked by a tall cliff face, allowing him to concentrate on the cats ahead of him. A few moments went by before the two cats appeared to be alerted by something or someone.

The Hunter pondered for a few seconds, wondering if he had been detected by the beasts of dexterity. He pushed himself closer to cliff face to hide. Suddenly, a boom of wind whizzed over the Hunter’s head from the cliffs above. He quickly looked up and saw this enormous green dragon fly out towards the ocean. Clearly the Hunter didn't alert the cats.

The Hunter remained still, hoping the Dragon would continue out to sea.  However, his heart sank when the great lizard turned and looked upon the Hunter with great vision. The Hunter didn’t delay, pushing himself off the rocks, down to the coast below.

The Hunter’s quick movements were the right moves as the dragon missed him with a scorching burst of fire.

The Hunter continued to run as the dragon headed back out to sea, preparing for another fly-by of deadly flames. The Hunter stopped at the edge of a forest near the coast; looking out to sea he noticed that something had stolen the dragon’s attention.

Further observation revealed to the Hunter that it was the black and white sabre cat in saw earlier. It had foolishly tried to run into the sea to evade the dragon, unlike the other cat who had smartly rushed into the forest. The cat was an easy target for the Dragon as it desperately moved its paws through the cold waters.

An unusual sense of sympathy engulfed the Hunter as he watched the cat struggling to evade the winged beast. He took out his bow and fired a single arrow at the hovering dragon in hope of giving the cat a chance to reach the coast and therefore safety.

The Hunter thought he had done his good deed for the day as the cat somehow managed to get itself back on dry land. However, the Hunter’s limited aid was inevitably in vain when the dragon released another burst of fire, causing the fatal blow to the poor cat as it neared the forest.

As the burning corpse of the cat fell to the ground, the Dragon quickly turned his attention back to the Hunter. The Hunter had now started to regret failing to use the opportunity of the cat to run and lose the dragon.

The forest provided some cover from the dragon’s flying attacks yet this relief was temporary when the flying lizard started crashing to the ground, pushing snow, dirt and leaves across the coast. The fire-breathing creature lit the forest in flames as the Hunter continued to flee.

The Hunter remained in the forest, trying to escape as nightfall continued. The sun had now set but it certainly didn’t feel like it. The heat from the dragon’s mouth and  the burning of the trees and grasses surrounding him was simply unbearable.

Fortunately, the Hunter soon came across a path. It was no doubt a road to civilisation and therefore aid. He followed it, keeping to the trees to avoid being vulnerable to lizard’s attacks from the air.

As the Hunter continued to run, he glanced to his right and saw fireballs pushing through the sky in the dragon’s general direction. A quick search led to a mercenary. He was a heavily armoured warrior, grasping an axe in his right hand and magical powers in his left.

The mercenary desperately shouted out across the lands, hoping more would hear and send help. However, no help arrived and the Hunter looked on in horror as he watched the flames of the dragon engulf the mercenary. His body was burned to the crisp, and his weapon appeared to have even melted under the extreme temperatures. The poor warrior didn’t even last as long as the cat on the coastline.

While the dragon had already claimed two victims, it had not forgotten the Hunter and continued to chase him in the forest. The flames got ever closer to the Hunter and he was nearing the end of the forest, forcing him to go on the adjacent path.

The Hunter was now vulnerable on the clear pathways. Fortunately, the dragon appeared to have tired and appeared to prefer landing on the ground to release a burst of fire.

The Hunter soon reached a crossroads, and a person appeared from the banks below. It was a random farmer, similar to the one who had helped the Hunter face the Thalmor Wizards on the road to Solitude.

The Farmer’s courage was limitless, he charged at the creature wearing nothing but rags while grasping a meagre iron axe. The outcome was obvious, failing to even reach the dragon, and claimed by its breath of flames.

The chase continued along the path. Several people were spotted in the distance. As the Hunter got closer, it became clear that this was a battle between the Stormcloaks and the Empire. It was easy for the Hunter to forget about the civil war considering he often found himself running away from people and creatures.

Nevertheless, this was the perfect opportunity for the Hunter to finally lose the dragon, which would clearly be delayed and distracted by a company of soldiers. The Imperials and the Stormcloaks were so focussed on the intense fight that many of those engaged in combat didn’t even spot the great beast until it killed several soldiers from both sides with its powerful breath.

Despite the arrival of the giant creature, it was clear that the Stormcloaks had already been winning the battle. The corpses of the Imperial Legion amassed on the snowy grounds beyond and blood slowly flowed through the cracks of the cobble road.

A Nord mage on the Stormcloak side was clearly the decisive factor in the battle. He soon turned his attention to the dragon while his comrades attempted to rout the last of the Imperial forces. He generated sharp ice spikes and sent them directly into the skin of the creature as other Stormcloaks looked on with their swords soaked with Imperial blood.

The civil war battle was coming to a conclusion as Stormcloaks continued to cut down the last of the Legion. However, the dragon made it clear that it would be ended by a third party. It released a terrifying roar that not only killed the last of the Imperial Legion but delivered critical casualties on the Stormcloak side.  

The Stormcloaks desperately tried to regroup and a small band of brave warriors eventually charged down to the dragon in an attempt to kill the great beast. The dragon’s face and wings were soaked in the blood of its victims yet it was clear the beast itself was injured from the constant fighting. However, the hint of injury to the dragon seemed non-existent when it continued to annihilate the Stormcloaks

The Hunter had waited long enough; he rushed down the road, leaving the Stormcloaks to a fiery end.

Chapter 8: A Blubbery Accomplice

Chapter 8: A Blubbery Accomplice

The ship on the Solitude coast that the Hunter had cleared a couple of months ago continued to provide the warmth and shelter he had longed for many years. He had adored the warmth and comfort provided by the well finished bed, thankful it was not simply a flat rock or rotten tent that was often the used in his life when he was back in the wilderness. Such simple luxury is often forgotten and unappreciated when life has been such a dramatic struggle each day.

Despite the joy and feeling of relief provided by the ship and the supplies within, the Hunter soon realised that he would have to move out eventually. The food supplies were dwindling and he was keen to get a renewed feeling of the lands beyond the precious little ship. The Hunter quickly packed away some necessary equipment for a short trip across the coast for more supplies and headed up towards the deck.

He walked down from the luxurious cabin, and down through the halls past the blood stained wooden planks and corpses of the previous owners that he had yet to clean up.  He was shocked when his journey came to an abrupt end before he could even reach the top of the vessel. Two uninvited Imperial Guards blocked his exit and stared upon the confused Hunter.

Two months may have past but the stubborn Imperial Legion and Solitude guards had clearly not forgotten about the Hunter’s successful escape from Castle Dour in the city. Their investigations must have pointed to this abandoned ship and the Hunter soon started to regret foolishly remaining so close to a hostile city.

The Imperial Guards swiftly unsheathed their weapons and moved towards the Hunter, eager to get revenge for those slain by the Hunter during his escape. A battle ensued and more footsteps could be heard above. These two guards weren’t alone as an intrigued soldier headed down the steps to see what all the noise was about.

The first two guards were quickly dispatched by the Hunter, who was still competent at swordplay despite his lengthy resting period. As his two foes fell to the ground, an Imperial Officer, the intrigued soldier and another guardsman rushed down in an attempt to defeat the proficient warrior.

Using the narrow hallways and doors, the Hunter took cover and made the Imperial bows useless, forcing the Officer and his companions to engage in melee combat.

It wasn’t long until only the Hunter and the Imperial Commander remained. The Hunter quickly realised that this was a much stronger foe than the poorly equipped guards he had just slain, so he attempted to flee the ship instead of facing another long, exhausting fight.

Unfortunately this plan failed to work with the Imperial Commander dangerously close to delivering a fatal blow to the running Hunter. He made a brash decision of facing the Imperial Officer just before reaching the exit. He quickly turned and sliced his sword across the chest of the Officer, forcing him down to his knees before unleashing a fatal stab through his shoulder blade.

With a few moments to spare, the Hunter looted some coin from the corpses and rushed out onto the top deck. To both his left and right stood more Imperial Guards, 5 to be precise. Already nearly exhausted from his previous fight, he fled from the ship in hope of losing his pursuers.

Unsurprisingly, the Imperial Legion continued the chase. Three of the soldiers took out their bows and let loose several arrows in the Hunter’s direction. The other two soldiers eagerly followed the Hunter with their swords drawn as he headed north away from Solitude and his besieged ship-home.

When some distance developed between the two parties, the Hunter took the chance to lose his pursuers once and for all by heading towards a small cave to the west of Solitude Lighthouse.

It was deemed a risk considering he was unaware of what creatures dwelt within but he was soon relieved to see that only a family of Horkers inhabited the cave. The Hunter was aware of the Horker’s aggressive and unpredictable nature so he kept his distance as he found a place to hide.

A few moments later, the two sword grasping Guards entered the cave in search of the Hunter. Thankfully the other guards were likely searching elsewhere. One guard took out a torch while the other sheathed his sword in preference of using his bow instead. They started exploring the cave among the Horker in search of the fugitive.

One guard was becoming dangerously close to the hidden Hunter, who was undetected on a small rock facing above the pool of Horkers. The consequences of being caught in a narrow cave by more guards made the Hunter weary of combat but he decided it would be best to eliminate the guard who was simply too close for comfort.

He pulled back his bow and released a precise shot that punctured the skull of the unfortunate Imperial. His torch fell loose from his palms and fell to the ground, followed closely by his bloody corpse.

The talking and movement of the guards were clearly irritating the Horkers and when the first guard finally dropped to the ground; the restless Alpha Horker retaliated by attacking his companion and blocking his escape.

The guard bravely tried to fight off the 3 tusk beast, desperately swiping his sword at its thick, blubbery skin. However, his survival attempt was inevitably futile when the creature mortally wounded the guard. 

The Horker seemed particularly happy with his kill as it disturbingly started to chomp on the guard’s head. The Hunter was also very pleased with the help from the Horker but was eager to not disturb the creature after witnessing that damage it could do. The Hunter slowly backed off towards the exit, leaving the Horker with its prize.

The Hunter left the cave and was relieved to discover that no other guards were in pursuit. Unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to go back to the ship he had loved and was now back in the Wilderness of Northern Skyrim.

Chapter 6: Imperial Blood

Chapter 6: Imperial Blood

The Hunter sat down on a hard wooden chair within his jail cell and reflected upon his failures on the streets above. He stared down at a loaf of stale bread and a block of mouldy cheese as the melancholoy sounds of jail shackles continued to echo the Castle Dour Dungeon. The dullness of prison life soon set in and the occasionally bite of bread did little to uplift his sadness.

The Hunter of Blunders soon realised he must escape. For a person who has relied on vast expanses of land for most of their life, the restricted and uncomfortable jail cell was horrific. As days past by, the Hunter began watching a prison guard wearing standard Imperial uniform, intending to remember his patrol routes.

He started planning his escape in his cell, searching every corner and every container for anything that could aid him in his escape. A few rotten apples and several small pots of salt found in nearby sacks only frustrated the Hunter further. However, his determination to search was soon rewarded, discovering a vital lockpick hidden beneath a basket.

The Hunter had now noticed the patrol route that the Guard would take, consistently circling the central base of the dungeon and peaking into every jail cell. The prison guard stopped and looked upon the Hunter’s cell with a deep sense of suspicion when the clutter he had found in his cell littered the stone floor.

The Hunter was soon relieved to discover that his escape would not involve leaving through his prison cell gate when he accidentally discovered an unstable section of wall when searching some nearby sacks.

He waited for a lull in the prison guard’s monotonous patrol before investigating the stonewall further, coming to the conclusion that it would fall if enough force was applied. Eager to take advantage of the Guard’s supposed absence, the Hunter released a powerful fist straight into the wall, breaking it and revealing a hidden pathway. 

The Hunter ran with haste, desperately hoping that this pathway would leave to a quick and easy escape route. There was a sense of urgency and panic as the stonewall crashing to the ground released a loud blast of sound, no doubt alerting the prison guard. The Prison Guard was quick to prove the Hunter’s worries when he entered the jail cell. Bow-drawn and ready for combat, the Hunter had become the hunted.

Further along the narrow pathway, a fortunate gap in another section of the Dungeon walls gave the Hunter access to his belongings that were confiscated when he was originally arrested.  The lockpick that he had discovered proved its worth when it was successfully used to open the chest.

While the Hunter was busy gathering all his gear, the Prison Guard had discovered him. He silently lowered his bow and unsheathed his Imperial sword. He then slowly walked forward towards the Hunter, stepping on a patch of hay that delivered enough sound for the Hunter to be alerted.

The Hunter quickly snatched his fine sword from the chest and delivered a swift swipe of the blade in the Guard’s direction, saving himself from the Prison Guard’s intended silent finishing move. The Hunter and the Guard were now on equal terms as a sword battle ensued within the hidden pathway.

The Hunter appeared to be winning the battle, delivering several critical strikes on the Guard that left several deep wounds on his lower body. Before the Hunter could deliver the final blow, another guard suddenly appeared to support his struggling comrade. 

The Hunter realised that he would have to keep moving, otherwise he would have the entire Imperial Legion to fight in his escape.

After sprinting down the hallway in an attempt to create some distance between the two parties, the Hunter noticed that the two guards were still pursuing him and there was little hope of evading them for much longer.

He turned around and faced the two guards, this time delivering a crucial swipe on the second one, slowing them down and giving the Hunter a bigger chance to escape.

The loss of blood soon overwhelmed the first guard. A blank look in his eyes was constant as he fell to his knees and crashed to the ground. Meanwhile, the other guard continued to pursue the Hunter down a small set of stairs

The end of the hidden pathway was discovered at the bottom of the stairs. A ladder leading to the streets of Solitude stood beside him. The Hunter realised that he wouldn’t be able to climb the ladder without an arrow being shot into back so he made a final standard against his pursuer.

A short battle followed with both men almost exhausted. Fortunately, the Hunter was successful in the tense melee, stabbing his enemy and pushing his bleeding corpse on a wooden bench beside the ladder.

The Hunter sheathed his blood stained blade and climbed the ladder to the surface just outside Castle Dour. He was greeted by a clear night sky but still had to evade the guards on the Solitude streets before he could rest and get a true sense of freedom.

He took out his hood to make his blood soaked prison rags less obvious and jumped down to the street below to begin his final challenge of the night.

Fortunately, the streets were relatively empty due to the time of the day but the Hunter soon spotted the guard who had put him in the depths of Castle Dour. The Hunter was eager to get some revenge for his capture but the risk was too high. He evaded the guard and made way to a small passage down to Solitude docks.

The Hunter was free and back in the favoured wilderness.However, He now had the blood of the Imperial Legion on his hands and decided it would be probably best to leave the Haarfingar hold.